Gamertrainer.com Goes Live

Gamertrainer.com, a portal dedicated to helping players learn gaming skills training, announced the launch of its website and service today. The website serves all levels of gamers from novices to professionals and promises tips, guides and hourly private lessons provided by skilled instructors.

Participants that want some training book a training session by using the on-site calendar showing all the days and times available by game. Customers can book, purchase and complete a form describing exactly what they would like to learn and within hours they are contacted by their trainer.

Gamertrainer.com provides private training sessions and training gift certificates for both experienced and beginner gamers on all the major platforms (Xbox360, PlayStation 3, Nintendo Wii and PC) and a growing list of games including Battlefield: Bad Company, Call of Duty 4: Modern Combat, Guitar Hero III and Rock Band, Halo 2 and 3, Madden NFL 09, Rainbow Six Vegas 1 and 2, Super Smash Bros. Brawl and World of Warcraft.

It’s an interesting idea for delivering some unique service, for sure. Find out more about it including pricing, by visiting Gamertrainer.com.

Battlefield: Bad Company Conquest This Week

The number one reason anyone is still playing Battlefield: Bad Company is because of its multiplayer and EA wants players to continue the fun with some new content. That new content will come in the form of an update on August 7 which will deliver a brand new and familiar mode called Conquest.

Made famous by Battlefield 1942, Conquest mode pits players against each other in a fast-paced battle to eliminate the opposing team’s tickets. Players deplete their opponent’s tickets by one point per kill and can cause their opponents tickets to spiral downwards by capturing control points. Four maps that are currently available for online play in Gold Rush mode will be available in Conquest mode.

The new Conquest mode will be a free download on the PlayStation Store and Xbox 360 Marketplace later this week.

EA Posts Smaller Than Expected Loss

Electronic Arts posted a $95 million loss for the fiscal first quarter that ended June 30, beating street estimates of a $111 Million loss (Non-GAAP net loss was $135 million). During the quarter the company posted net revenue of $804 million, up $409 million for the same period a year ago (Non-GAAP net revenue was $609 million). The driving force for EA’s revenues was Battlefield: Bad Company, UEFA EURO 2008, and the continued demand for Rock Band.

Net revenue for the first quarter was $804 million, up $409 million as compared with $395 million for the prior year. Non-GAAP net revenue was $609 million, up 41 percent as compared with $431 million for the prior year.  During the quarter, EA had a net gain of $231 million related to  thedeferred net revenue for certain online enabled packaged goods games.

Looking ahead in the short term, EA has high hopes for Madden NFL 09, which launches on August 12 and Spore, which launches across multiple platforms on September 7.

LEGO Indiana Jones, MGS 4 Top June Charts

While Metal Gear Solid 4 was technically the best selling software title in June According to NPD Group, LEGO Indiana Jones had the most sales  (if you lump together all platforms), easily beating Konami’s PS3 exclusive. Metal Gear Solid 4 sold an impressive 774,600 units in North America during the month of June; and if you factor in the special MGS4 PS3 bundles that number swells to 1 million units.

But even if you factor in the bundles, Metal Gear Solid 4 couldn’t beat the popular LEGO Indiana Jones, which had combined sales (PS2, DS, Wii) of 1.1 million. Other notables for June included Guitar Hero On Tour (400,000 units) for DS, and the Xbox 360 exclusive Ninja Gaiden II (372, 000 units). Top ten list below:

June Software Sales

1. Metal Gear Solid 4 (PlayStation 3, Konami) - 774,600 Units
2. Guitar Hero World Tour (Nintendo DS, Activision) - 422,300 Units
3. Ninja Gaiden II (Xbox 360, Tecmo/MGS) - 372.700 Units
4. Wii Fit w/balance board (Wii, Nintendo) - 372,700 Units
5. Wii Play w/remote (Wii, Nintendo) - 359, 100 Units
6. Battlefield: Bad Company (Xbox 360, EA) - 346,800 Units
7. Mario Kart (Wii, Nintendo) - 322,400 Units
8. Lego Indiana Jones (Wii, LucasArts) - 294,500 Units
9. Lego Indiana Jones (DS, LucasArts) - 267,800 Units
10. Lego Indiana Jones (PS2, LucasArts) - 260,300 Units

Battlefield: Bad Company Gold Edition Details

EA officially announced the Gold Edition of Battlefield: Bad Company today, though the contents of this special retail release probably won’t surprise anyone that has been paying attention to the game.

The Gold Edition of Battlefield: Bad Company will be available for a limited time and will contain behind-the-scenes action and strategy videos (with some tricks and tips included), along with “early access” to five unique weapons that players can take into battle. These weapons can also be unlocked after the launch of the game by ranking up to the highest level in multiplayer mode.

The company had planned to make these weapons part of a micro-transaction scheme, but after some tough talk from the community, DICE opted to make this additional content unlockable.

Battlefield: Bad Company will be available for the Xbox 360 and the PS3.

Bad Company Ships Out

EA and its Digital Illusions studio have released Battlefield: Bad Company for the Xbox 360 and PS3 today giving gamer a shot at taking the boys of Company B out for some high impact fun. The game will be widely available on June 25 in North America and June 27 in Europe. In a departure for the Battlefield series, Bad Company focuses on action, dark humor, vehicular action and taking itself a lot less seriously.

The single-player campaign tells the tale of Preston Marlowe, a screw-up whose antics land him in the division with the highest mortality rate in the military. Alongside other misfits alongside (Sarge, Haggard and Sweetwater), players embark on a hunt for treasure, taking out enemies as they go with dozens of vehicles, advanced weaponry and deadly toys. Multiplayer focuses on the familiar Battlefield formula of team-based, vehicular and infantry combat in fast-paced slick environments.

Look for the game in stores. For more information, check out our Battlefield Bad Company game page - and for fun check out Kyle Orland’s Games For Lunch.

Bad Company, Mercenaries 2 Delayed

In a conference call to discuss its financial results with the media, analyst and investors, Electronic Arts revealed that two of its top franchise releases would be delayed. EA CEO John Riccitiello told conference callers that Battlefield: Bad Company and Mercenaries 2: World in Flames would not be released until fiscal 2009:

We have made the decision to move Battlefield Bad Company and Mercenaries 2 into fiscal 2009. Both titles are looking great and we believe with additional polish, we will build a better consumer experience and thereby maximize our economics. However, our Q4 bottom line guidance will be negatively impacted.

Sad news for gamers. The Crispy Nation bows its head.